Title: Gloucester City Festival of Volleyball 2006

When: 12-13th August 2006

Where: Oxtalls Indoor Tennis Centre, GL2 9DW

Format: 6 x mens, womens, mixed; outdoor

Surface: Grass

Link: No official link, details run through the EVA website: www.volleyballengland.org

Other info: After five years of raining on the Sunday the organisers have got smart and moved the venue to an indoor centre, only to discover that the volleyball was still outdoors. The facilities on offer were superior to the previous venue, and finally we have showers that just don't wet your feet! Traditionally a well run and excellent tournament, though the evening entertainment could do with less listening and more party.

Title: Whitefield International Volleyball Tournament 2006

When: 22-23rd July 2006

Where: Bath Sports Centre

Format: 6 x mens, womens, mixed; outdoor (premier indoor)

Surface: Grass

Link: www.whitefieldvolleyball.co.uk

Other info: Probably one of the oldest and biggest volleyball tournaments in the UK. A total of 120 teams enter in the various divisions, making entry to the tournament extremely quick and difficult to enter. Ideally you want to camp on the site, although several campsites are on offer out of town. Traditionally the party on the Saturday night has been entertaining, but close proximity to the city has allowed easy access to the various bars on offer.

Title: Alcazar International Volleyball Tournament Rotterdam 2006

When: 31st March - 2nd April 2006

Where: Erasmus University, Rotterdam

Format: 6 x mixed; indoor

Surface: sprung-floor

Link: www.it-alcazar.nl

Other info: One of the best, well-run tournaments going. After paying your inital fee, it accounts for two parties, accommodation and food. Excellent value. The students running the tournament work extremely hard, party hard and make you feel very welcome. The tournament is themed throughout the weekend and the parties last till the early hours. Volleyball is at an excellent level. Sleeping on the sport's hall floor for four hours a night takes a lot of getting used to.

Title: Nottingham Volleyball Tournament 2006

When: 10th June 2006

Where: Widmerpool RFC, Nottingham

Format: 6 x mixed; outdoor

Surface: Grass

Link: Full Tournament Details

Other info: Probably the best volleyball tournament in the world. Okay, maybe not, but as this site runs the tournament, its allowed. After several years of silence, a Nottingham tournament was relaunched. Blessed by marvelous sunshine, the tournament was very successful. Click on the above link for more details.

Title: Bridlington Beach Volleyball Tournament

When: 15-16th July 2006

Where: Bridlington Beach, South Shore

Format: 4 x mixed; 2 x mens, womens, mixed; outdoor

Surface: Sand (doh!)

Link: www.bridbeach.co.uk

Other info: Always good fun, this year not being the exception. Good weather favoured the 2006 tournament. Campsite getting stricter on regulations, with tents not allowed to 'circle the campfire'. Bridlington town never fails to deliver. Watch out for those pirates!

2008 Olympic qualification systems confirmed for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball

The qualification systems for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games have been confirmed by the International Olympic Committee. For Volleyball, the qualification period will start with the FIVB World Cup, which will be held in Japan in November 2007, whereas the qualification period for Beach Volleyball will run from 1 January 2007.

For Volleyball, there are a total of 12 team vacancies for each gender. China is directly granted one vacancy for each gender as host nation. The first three vacancies available through qualification will be filled by the top three teams in each gender at the 2007 World Cup, which will take place from 2 November 2007 until 16 November 2007 (women) and 18 November 2007 to 2 December 2007 (men). A further five vacancies will be filled by the winners of Continental Championships organised by each of the five FIVB Confederations (AVC, CAVB, CEV, CSV and NORCECA) over the period from 1 December 2007 to 15 January 2008. A minimum of four participating teams is required for such Continental Championships. The remaining three vacancies for each gender will be decided by World Olympic Qualification tournaments (1 for women and 3 for men). These World Olympic Qualification tournaments, to be held before 8 June 2007, will also be used to fill any remaining continental vacancies in the event that one or more continents do not hold Continental Qualification tournaments.

For Beach Volleyball, the qualification period runs from 1 January 2007 to 20 July 2008 with 24 team vacancies available for each gender. By 21 July 2008, the FIVB will establish an Olympic Ranking based on the best eight performances of teams in recognised Olympic Qualification tournaments (SWATCH FIVB World Tour events, SWATCH FIVB World Championships, FIVB recognised Continental Championship Finals). Whilst China will automatically qualify as host nation, the top 23 teams from each gender will qualify for Beijing 2008, subject to a maximum of two teams per country. In order to respect the universality principle of the Olympic Games, if a continent does not have any teams qualified after the above procedure is applied, the 23rd place will be occupied by the highest-ranked eligible team from the continent in question.

www.fivb.org